Since the
North Dakota oil boom the city has become one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. The city according to the 2015 census is estimated to have a population of 23,765, however, other sources have estimates of the population at 30,372 or possibly exceeding 35,000.[9] The rapid growth of the city led to an increase in crime and homelessness within the city limits.[10][11] Also the city has seen an increase in diversity, with increases in the
Latino,
Asian and
African American populations.

Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.03 square miles (25.98 km2), of which, 9.96 square miles (25.80 km2) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) is water.[2] Dickinson's municipal water supplies come from Southwest Water Authority which, in turn, gets their water from Lake Sakakawea through a transmission pipeline.

Climate

Dickinson has a
humid continental climate (
Köppen climate classificationDwb), near the borderline with a
semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk). The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 16.3 °F (−8.7 °C) in January to 69.2 °F (20.7 °C) in July; on average, temperatures reach 100 °F (38 °C) on 2.2 days, 90 °F (32 °C) on 22 days, and 0 °F (−18 °C) on 32 days annually. The average window for freezing temperatures is September 22 thru May 16 and for measurable (≥0.1 inches or 0.25 centimetres) snow, October 26 thru April 19. Due to the relative aridity, there are only 2.8 days where 24-hour snowfall exceeds 3 inches (7.6 cm). With a period of record dating only to 1938 (for lows) and 1948 (for highs), extreme temperatures range from −35 °F (−37 °C) as recently as January 29, 1966 to 109 °F (43 °C) on July 7, 1981.

There were 7,521 households of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were
married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.7% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 21% of residents were under the age of 18; 14.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

There were 6,517 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were
married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 13.8% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,542, and the median income for a family was $41,566. Males had a median income of $30,613 versus $19,951 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $15,975. About 7.1% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

K-12

The
Dickinson Public Schools system includes six elementary schools, a junior high school,
Dickinson High School and an alternative high school. There are also several parochial schools in Dickinson. Trinity East and Trinity West serve as the parochial elementary schools and
Dickinson Trinity has both a junior high school and a high school. Hope Christian Academy is also located in Dickinson. HCA is part of the Evangelical Bible Church. The current principal is Shane Bradley.